How one’s parents finish the last chapter of their lives is a difficult decision, generally, but even more difficult when they suffer from dementia.

I will always be grateful for the wonderful staff at Karlton for the kindness, compassion, respect, and excellent physical care given to my mother and stepfather.

I’m sure there are other daughters who wanted to keep their mothers close, to bring them into their homes despite how impossible that might be. Before I ever moved my parents into Karlton, Barbara was a wonderful source of support, helping me understand what they needed, helping me explore all the possible options, and then helping me make what was one of the best decisions of my life.

Karlton (Barbara and Elena and all the other caregivers) became partners - a very important relationship, a very necessary relationship.

Did she want to be there? Of course not. My mother wanted to stay in the home she loved and to continue living the life she’d had...but she couldn’t. It didn’t take too long for my mother to understand Karlton was now her home, made much easier by the fact that the staff made it “feel” like home. She made friends with other residents, became close to the staff, and found a kind of peace and day to day joy I don’t believe would have been possible elsewhere.

Unfortunately, Karlton was not my parents’ first residential care, for I’d made the mistake of placing them in a corporate facility, thinking a large corporation would have more resources, notwithstanding it was just slightly less expensive. In fact, it was hugely more expensive both financially and emotionally, a huge mistake. I can never repay Karlton for all they did, but I can talk with other daughters trying to decide what’s best for their parents.

I can tell you my story and answer your questions more fully, more specifically than by this testimonial letter. Please feel free to call me at 408-992-0136 or email me at lguardia@pacbell.net.